SPECIAL ISSUE: MONOGRAPH ON BREEDING ECOLOGY OF NARCONDAM HORNBILLRHYTICEROS NARCONDAMI HUME, 1873

Abstract :

Hornbills (Bucerotidae and Bucorvidae) are among the largest and most conspicuous bird species in the tropical forests of Asia and Africa. They are brightly coloured, have loud calls, and characteristically large bills and casques. Due to their predominantly frugivorous diet, the hornbills have always been considered important agents of seed dispersal in the tropical forests. They are known to be among the most easily surveyed forest organisms, allowing both visible and audible means of identification (Kemp and Kemp, 1974; Poonswadet al., 1987; Johns 1987, 1988). The remarkable nesting habit is that the female seals herself in a large cavity of a living tree leaving only a narrow opening for her mate to pass food to her and later chicks. They are omnivores feeding on a great variety of fruits and animals. Thus, they are important for seed dissemination and keep balance of some animal groups in the forest (Poonswardet al., 1987; Kemp, 1995).